THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY Page 9

An ‘upside down’ architect designed housein Jedburgh with grazing and stables

Built 19 years ago on an elevated sitewithin Jedburgh that provides stunningviews over the town and countrysidebeyond, The Clay House is a visuallystriking architect-designed property. Add to that 2.5 acres of land with grazing and a detached stable block with two looseboxes and a tack room and this is a one-off property likely to attract considerableinterest from equestrian enthusiasts.

Mike Bryden bought the property eightyears ago, having been captivated by theviews, the position, and most of all the landand facility for horses. “The animal side isvery important to me,” says Mike, who hastwo pet sheep called Lamb Chop and MintSauce, one pony, one former racehorseand a three-year-old foal that was bornhere.

He was also impressed by the property’straditional brick-built construction, which heinitially thought had prompted the housename. However, it transpires the name is in recognition of clay houses that were onthe site in the distant past. “What is alsounusual,” Mike reveals, “is that the interior of the house has solid walls, there are nopartition walls anywhere, which meanssound doesn’t travel between rooms.”

In his time here Mike has carried out anumber of improvements to the property,including replacing all the Tarmacsurfaces, eg entrance driveway and carparking/turning areas. He has alsoimproved the drainage, water facility andshelter in the field, and had the fishpondin the garden re-built as the previous pondwas cracked and leaked as a result. In fact, he went one better, as the currentpond is also heated.

What is immediately apparent when yousee this house is the shape. Built into ahillside, the house is on three levels, whichputs the bedrooms on the ground levelwith the entrance and main living area inthe middle/upper section that takes fulladvantage of the spectacular panoramicviews.

The views clearly inspired the architect,who incorporated a magnificent circularliving room with five front-facing windowsand a vaulted roof with exposed timberbeams, while at the very top of the housethere is a 30ft games room with windowsat either end, which Mike currently uses as an office.

In total, the layout has a hall with directaccess to the integral double garage andsteps up to the mezzanine living area,comprising 27ft circular living room withaccess to a south and west-facingpatio/terrace, and equally impressive 31ftdining kitchen, the latter superbly wellequipped with high-tech appliances,including a touch control hob, extractor,grill, oven, cappuccino/espresso maker,integrated fridge and freezer, illuminateddisplay cabinet and wine rack.

Stairs lead up to the room at the top,at present an office but could also be agames room, family/TV room or similar as it has a wall-mounted Living Flame gas fire.

Downstairs on the ground level thereare four good-sized bedrooms, masterbedroom with separate dressing room(fitted furniture), 13ft en suite bathroom(four-piece suite and separate tiledshower) and patio doors opening on toa terrace overlooking the garden pond.Bedroom two also has an en suitebathroom, while the fourth bedroomhas its own shower enclosure. Theground floor also has a cloakroom and utility/laundry room.

The surrounding landscaped gardengrounds are a major feature and includemature trees and shrubs, lawns, abeautiful raised patio/terrace, heatedfishpond and large parking areaadjacent to the double garage, whichhas electronic up-and-over doors.The property also has grazing and a detached timber stable blockcomprising two loose boxes and tack room.

An ideal home for a family with petsand horses, Clay House is located inthe Friars area of Jedburgh, within easy reach of the Grammar Schooland town centre. Amenities in the town are excellent, as are transport links for commuting to Edinburgh andNewcastle, either by road or rail fromBerwick on Tweed.

The Clay HouseThe Friars, Jedburgh

In the region of £485,000

Details on page 6